Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben - Washington, D.C. - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben is one of four European military leaders who assisted the American cause during the Revolution honored with a statue in Lafayette Park just north of The White House in Washington, D.C. The statue is located in a prime location in this U.S. capital city. The public park is located directly north of the White House on H Street between 15th and 17th Streets NW. The monument was created in 1910, and the sculptor was Albert Jaegers.

According to information posted on the internet (visit link): "Baron von Steuben (1730-1794) served in the army of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, before arriving in the colonies at the time of the Revolutionary War. He trained the colonists in military procedure, tactics, and discipline, although he spoke no English. It is said that the Frenchman Pierre L'Enfant drew pictures of what von Steuben wanted the troops to do, which led to L'Enfant's introduction to Gen. Washington."

"After the war, von Steuben became an American citizen and was granted a pension by the Congress. At the rear of the pedestal of the statue appears a medallion with the images of von Steuben's aides-de-camp, William North and Benjamin Walker, to whom he left his property in New York on his death. A replica of the statue was presented to the Emperor of Germany as an acknowledgement of his gift to the United States of a statue of Frederick the Great."

The following information about the statue is from the Smithsonian Art Inventory website:

"Standing portrait of von Steuben looking out into the distance as he inspects his troops in 1778. He is dressed in a U.S. Continental Army uniform consisting of a long buttoned vest with sash, tall boots, a three-cornered hat, and a long cape draped around his shoulders. His proper left hand concealed by his cape is at his waist. The sculpture is installed atop a square tiered base adorned with bronze figure groups on the right and left sides and ornamental reliefs on the front and back sides. On the front of the base, a relief of an American eagle appears at the top of a inscription made of bronze letters. On the back of the base is a plaque with profile reliefs of the heads of von Steuben's aides-de-camp, Colonel William North and Major Benjamin Walker."

"On the northeast side of the base are two male figures who symbolize Military Instruction. One is a seated Native American wearing only a helmet as he instructs a nude youth standing in front of him on how to use the sword which he holds in his proper right hand. On the southwest side of the base are two figure who symbolize Commemoration. One is a seated nude female figure wearing only sandals and a robe draped across her lap. Behind her on her proper left is a tree which symbolizes American National life and in front of her is a nude youth kneeling under the tree. The female figure and the youth hold a ribbon which they tie to the tree in an attempt to graft the foreign stock represented by von Steuben to the American tree of life."

TITLE: Major General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben ARTIST(S): Jaegers, Albert, 1865-1925, sculptor. Gilbert, Cass, 1858-1934, architect. Johnson, T. R., architect. DATE: Cast Sept. 1909-1910. Dedicated Dec. 7, 1910. MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: pink granite. CONTROL NUMBER: IAS DC000216 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Avenue between Jackson Place & Madison Place, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia. DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: None.

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